David Adjaye steps down from various roles following sexual misconduct allegations

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Sir David Adje has stepped down from a number of roles and projects after a Financial Times investigation revealed three former female employees accused the renowned architect of serious misconduct, including sexual harassment.

The architect has achieved global fame in recent years. His company has been commissioned to design the UK’s Holocaust Memorial as well as Ghana’s National Cathedral in Accra and a museum of West African art in Benin City, Nigeria.

The UK government department that oversees the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Center in London said it was “aware” of the allegations and Adjaye’s architectural practice, Adjaye Associates, had confirmed that “Sir David will not be involved” in the memorial’s design. until the issue is raised. has been addressed”.

It is unclear how Adjaye Associates plans to deal with the allegations or how Adjaye, as head of the firm, will distance himself from the Holocaust memorial project his firm is still designing.

Adjaye has also resigned as a trustee of the prestigious Serpentine Gallery of Contemporary Art in London. “We have accepted his resignation with immediate effect,” the organization said.

In addition, the architect has also left the role of advisor to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The Mayor’s spokesman said: “Sir David Adjaye has stepped down from his role as a design advocate”, adding that the Mayor’s Design Advocates would be tasked with “shaping a better city by promoting quality and inclusion in the built environment”. ” was chosen.

In a statement through his spokesman, Adjaye said he was stepping down so that the allegations “do not become a distraction”.

He continued, “While I strongly reject the very serious allegations against me, it is important that they do not become a distraction for organizations where I have a personal role. In order to focus on restoring trust and accountability, I have agreed to step aside from those individual roles with immediate effect.

Three women formerly employed in the practice have accused Adjaye and his organization of various forms of abuse—from alleged sexual harassment and coercion by him to a toxic work culture—that have gone unchecked for years.

Separately, the East County Library project in the US state of Oregon, on which Adjaye Associates was working, said on Tuesday the company was “no longer involved” and that the action was “completed prior to publication” of the FT story. . ,

From designing the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Adjaye to designing the Abrahamic Family House, which includes a mosque, church and synagogue, in Abu Dhabi is one of the greatest achievements of his career. has enjoyed international success since.